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Ranking the 10 best defensive linemen in NY Giants history

By Desmond Novack

NY Giants Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
NY Giants Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 27: Commissioner of the NFL Paul Tagliabue (L) shakes hands with Leonard Marshall #70 of the New York Giants prior to the start of Super Bowl XXV between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 27: Commissioner of the NFL Paul Tagliabue (L) shakes hands with Leonard Marshall #70 of the New York Giants prior to the start of Super Bowl XXV between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

3. Leonard Marshall

Accolades: two-time Pro Bowler, two-time All Pro member, two-time Super Bowl Champion

During his 10-year tenure with the NY Giants, Leonard Marshall (79.5 sacks, 660 tackles and nine forced fumbles) was consistently one of the best defensive players on the entire team, racking up six eight-plus sack seasons in the process while also playing a huge roll in both of the teams Super Bowl victories in ’86 and ’90.

After being selected in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft, it would not take very long for Marshall to begin his dominance. In only his third season in the league, Marshall would tally 15.5 sacks and 99 combined tackles. This led to Pro Bowl and All Pro honors.

Marshall would follow this season up well, putting up 63 combined tackles and 12 sacks in 1986: earning another Pro Bowl and All Pro selection. He also helped the NY Giants reach the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos. In this game, Marshall would take down QB John Elway two times, helping the NY Giants eventually win the game 39-20.

This level of success would continue for Marshall for the majority of the rest of his career, even helping the NY Giants win another Super Bowl in 1990 where he would rack up one sack against the Buffalo Bills.

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